DA*200 anyone?

I'm very curious why it seems that almost no one has that lens, any reasons for that?

If you do have the lens or used it how does it handles and how are the photos?
I'm tempted to buy one so that's why I'm so curious.

I have the DA* 300mm. I didn't buy the 200mm because I have a Sigma 180mm Macro which is close enough to 200mm if I needed a 200mm prime.

That's fair enough, still doesn't explain why the rest don't have it

It looks like a splendid lens to me so the range must not be right for most or they have another lens to fill the place. Maybe a 70-200 but I believe that they are quite a bit heavier and also bigger so that's why i favor the DA*200 and a 70-200 will overlap too much with DA*50-135 and I want to stay Pentax to be honest.

To be honest Stefan I think the answer is because the DA* zooms are so good, for me at least having the DA* 60-250 it would be a waste of money and would never get used, too inconvenient.

Obviously if F2.8 is highly important to you, then it is worth looking at, but again there are 2 competing 70-200 F2.8 zooms out there that obviously are a lot more flexible and cheaper. Any slight compromise on ultimate image quality is offset for the vast majority of people by the price and convenience.

Did test one once with the Tamron 1.4x converter (SDM contacts), and it was a bit of a purple fringe master with that combination!

Knowing you have a tight budget, I really, really would look at selling your DA* 50-135, forget about the DA* 200, and replace both with a DA* 60-250. Don't forget that the 50-135 price has just jumped from £519 to £919! So if you could, buy the 60-250 now, and sell the 50-135 in a few weeks when all existing stock at older prices is sold! May ending spending not much at all!

In my opinion, that would be the best option, but then again your requirements may be different to mine. It's worth testing a 60-250 for yourself to find out though.

Hi Stefan

When I first got my Pentax digital I added the 50-200 zoom which is a nice compact lens.

By the time the DA* 200/300 were released I imagine many others did the same (or other brand). So i too went for the DA*300 as i already had the 200mm length covered.

Given the price ! I wasnt itching to buy another long prime very quickly. Since then of course, the excellent 60-250 has come out, and I think that makes the 200mm even less desirable.

Danny, already tested the DA*60-250 6 months before it was in the shop.
the f/4 is holding me back a lot and i wont sell the DA*50-135 since it's just perfect for portrait, 60mm is going to be too long since i'm struggling with 50mm already. The DA*50-135 is really here to stay.

Since the DA*50-135 is here to stay it overlaps almost 50% of the DA*60-250 but then with a f/2.8 so i won't carry them both with me and probable will carry the DA*50-135 the most since I don't need the range as a zoom. This why I don't see the DA*60-250 as an option compared to the DA*200, they are both very different lenses when comparing the feel/spirits of them. They both can't replace each other I believe.

It's that the DA*200 is made for that range were as the DA*60-250 is made to be convenient. I might be the only one that thinks that way but don't think it's a real purpose lens, here comes my preferences of primes above

I had a DA18-250 but hardly used it because it just didn't feel right and didn't know what to do with it. I did love the versatility but then I bought the 100mm macro and the 18-250 became a dead weight.

I hope that that explains enough that the the DA*60-250 how stunning it might be is not an option for me.

Need to keep my eyes out on Ebay it seems

Am I really that strange to prefer the DA*200 above the DA*60-250???

Please I ain't the only one here right

Stefan,
Danny (Unlocker) has put it spot on. I really couldn't see any sense if having the DA*200 for that extra stop. You would be amazed at the quality of DA*60-250 when you use it. And dont forget quite a few of us have the DA*300 which we all know how great it is so for us to be talking about the stunning quality of the DA*60-250 you have to consider it that its based also on the relative quality of the DA*300.

Danny is right when he says if you buy the DA*60-250 while it is still at this price and then later on sell your DA*50-135 you would be in a winner situation. I have never handled the DA*50-135 although I have read some great stuff and seen it also from it, but I think the DA*60-250 is also very very good.

If you were close by I would let you borrow the DA*60-250 and then you could make your own conclusions.

Well, you could also invest in the DA*60-250 and then check it and if you do not like it you could always sell it off. Buy it at the cheaper price and then you can always sell it and I dont think you would lose any money as prices are due to go up any moment now. I bought it and within days the prices jumped so much, glad Mike-P gave me the thumbs up soon he bought his and put it through some tests and knowing the amount of lenses he has had his hands on I knew I couldn't go wrong following his advice.

Mike, if you are reading this get Chris to process your commission on your next purchase

Stefan , I think yes, you are buddy

Understand if you're a prime shooter Stefan, no problems there, as you can see, I have a few OK ones! Trouble is, they hardly get used because the zooms are so good and convenient.

I'm gonna get shot here by saying I could have quite happily lived without the LTDs, and I have considered selling them, on a lot more than one occasion! The main reason I'm excited about using them a lot now though, and again I'm gonna get shot here, is for video! Low light, high quality, depth of field video lenses with LTD quality. Don't knock it till you try it!

If I was in a position where I had to sell off kit to raise funds, just leave me with the K-7, 16-50 & 60-250 and I'd be happy enough.

Sorry, went off a bit there, but no, you're not unusual wanting that lens, It's just that you would put it to far better use than I would!

Amin, I really don't question the quality of the DA*60-250 I question her purpose for me. It would never be able to replace the DA*50-135 since it's 10mm longer on the wide end and also need the f/2.8 for the dof and I love how the DA*50-135 renders photos at f/2.8, the DA*60-250 just don't have that.

Also like said before the DA*50-135 over laps the DA*60-250 for 50% of the range but then with a f/2.8 and I don't need to zoom more then the 135mm I mostly sit against the 100mm. Only there are ocasions that i would want to have more reach but will used it at the top then so buying a DA*60-250 to be only used at 200 to 250mm is just silly and would be more happy to simply get a DA*200 and enjoy the extra stop I gain.

I see why you are promoting the DA*60-250 but it just doesn't fit in my needs.


Danny, If I would only had one lens that would be the 100mm macro, that's all I truly need, zoom are my legs.
The DA*60-250 has just this enourmes range and I know quite sure the same thing would happen with the DA18-250.
The sigma 50-500 also surely isn't a lens for me, just can't my head around that thing. I see for more things when I've a prime on the camera and I love that, with zooms that disappears. The DA*50-135 is an exception since it has the purpose for me to be a portrait lens and use it alot for that, the purpose for the DA*60-250 is just lost for me.... what do you shoot in that range???
60mm is not wide enough for portrait so won't use it for that so that leaves... what I want the DA*200 zoo and wildlife, just were the 135mm is to short sometimes.


So does no one here have the DA*200???

Looking through that angle Stefan then I fully agree with you, even that 10mm would be missed if you exchanged the DA*50-135 for the DA*60-250.
I am with you there, and I think that is a heck of a wise decision, and your requirement for the DA*200 also makes sense in this case. That DOF with that extra stop makes total sense.

At the long end f/4 would be enough though but not under the 100mm for me, really a personal need for my type of shooting.

Like said, I can see why you do love the DA*60-250, and I would surely love to try yours sometime Amin, then you can have a go with my DA*50-135. You might be surprised with the lens


If you don't need the f/2.8 like Danny then yes selling the DA*50-135 for a DA*60-250 would look like a wise choice but... nah not for me, sorry

Here are some shots link
Do you think the DA*60-250 looks better?

I will own up to having the DA*200.

I agree with just about everything that others have said above.

Its an excellent lens but, unless you need the stop difference then the DA*60-250 does out shine it.

Very easy to get purple fringing when shooting high contrast / back lit subjects but post processing can get rid of that (see recent thread)

For a DA* lens its fairly chunky as (like the other DA* primes) the image circle covers the 35mm format and a smaller image circle would probably have reduced the weight.

If 200 is the focal length that you want and f2.8, then the DA* is a solid but not spectacular preformer.

As others have said there are some 200-f2.8 alternatives to consider too.

I believe that the DA* 200mm is a repackaged FA/FA* 200mm lens which accounts for it's weight.